★ 9 / 10
Powerful in every way, both technically and emotionally
I won't go into detail about the specifics of the plot, or the psychological analysis of the characters and their relationship. One of the reasons is that…
I won't go into detail about the specifics of the plot, or the psychological analysis of the characters and their relationship. One of the reasons is that there's already a review here that does a brilliant job of covering those aspects (titled "Leaning towards the Sky").So I just want to add a few points. First, I find it very strange how little reach this film seems to have, even knowing that German films, unless they break out internationally, don't usually get much exposure on IMDb. Even so, only about 300 ratings and two reviews...? Honestly, that's far too little for a film of this quality.Director Mascha Schilinski is probably better known for the more recent and equally remarkable "In die Sonne schauen" ("Sound of Falling", 2025). While both films clearly carry her stamp (original direction and intelligent storytelling) I actually consider "Die Tochter" ("Dark Blue Girl") the more accomplished work, in the sense that the story opens and closes perfectly, and in between there's a gripping flow without a single scene that feels unnecessary or out of place.Every piece fits together like a perfectly assembled puzzle. Mascha Schilinski makes every second count: every (beautiful) shot, every line of dialogue, every silence and facial expression, every technical or stylistic detail (her choice of locations and framing is sublime) is used to tell the simplest story in the world without it ever feeling uninteresting, not even for a moment.She's definitely a filmmaker to watch closely, because the maturity, originality and inventiveness she shows in these two works suggest a future that's nothing short of brilliant.As for the actors (again, it's odd that they don't even have a proper photo on IMDb), I have to disagree with another reviewer who feels the performances, especially the mother, are weaker at times. Helena Zengel (probably the most familiar name of the three, despite her young age), Karsten Mielke and Artemis Chalkidou are superb in their differences, and the film itself is so well built, in substance and rhythm, that we actually forget they are the only three people we ever see on screen. Convincing, subtle, spontaneous, real... Everything you could ask for in a film where people are the very essence of the story.I have no idea what went wrong for this movie to receive so little attention from audiences. In that sense, it's a gem waiting to be discovered by others like me. And what a treat you have in store!I can't recommend this film highly enough, especially to anyone who enjoys a well told human story, in every respect.Very well done, Masha Schilinski. I can't wait to the next one!
Read full review
★ 8 / 10
No Innocence in Love
b_velkova
With the director's new film currently in theaters, I watched Dark Blue Girl - and it's an intense, haunting experience. The acting, particularly from the…
With the director's new film currently in theaters, I watched Dark Blue Girl - and it's an intense, haunting experience. The acting, particularly from the mother, can feel a bit wooden at times, but that hardly diminishes the film's emotional depth. The visuals of Santorini are breathtaking: both beautiful and menacing, perfectly reflecting the shifting moods.The story refuses simple psychological frames. Freud's Electra complex feels laughable compared to the tangled web of love, cruelty, and need this film explores. Being loved without limits, it suggests, can wound even more than not being loved at all.Dark Blue Girl presents a raw family dynamic where no one is innocent. Parents and children alike wound, manipulate, and crave affection - all aggressors and victims at once, locked in the savage dance of love without reflection. Uneven in places, yes, but emotionally daring, visually striking, and unforgettable.
Read full review
80%
AUDIENCE
6.6/10
404
•••
no seeds :/